Casing for locomotive steam pipes



Feb. 12 1924. v A. H. FETTERS CASING FOR LOGOMOTIVE STEAM PIPES FiledJune 15. 1923 Elite: "M14- the external cular,

UN ITED STATES PATENT o'F 1,483,423 Fl-CE.

ARTHUR H. FET'IERS, OF OMAHA, ISI EBRASKA.

cas no ron Locomor vn s'rE'ant rrrns.

Application flled..]'une 15, 1923. Serial No. 645,64iii.

To aZZ whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. Fn'rrnns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Casings for LocomotiveSteam Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to casings for'the outside steam pipes oflocomotives or for those portions of the steam pipes which pass throughthe shell of the smoke-box and thence to the valve-chests of thelocomotive cylinders. v

The purposes of the invention are, to produce a relatively inexpensivecasing-which shall hermetically seal the openings through which thesteam pipes pass, so that there maybe noingress whatever of air to thesmoke-box, and which though permitting or compensating for expansion andcontraction due to heat, and play incident to vibration of thelocomotive, shall nevertheless maintain a perfect sealing of theopenings for an indefinite periodf The construction is such that packingglands are avoided, and heavy and expensive fittings are dispensed with.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary section of the smoke box shell, the externalportion of one of the steam pipes, the sealing casing, and casinextending from the smoke box to the va ve-chest; and

Figure 2 is a plan or face viewof a plate applied to the interior of thesmoke-box shell and through which the steam pipe passes.

In these drawings, 1 indicates the shell of the smoke-box providedwithan opening 2 considerably larger than and thus facilitating theintroduction of the outside steam pipe 3. 4 indicates the valve-chestprovided with a flanged neck 5 with which the steam pipe 3 makesconnection, preferably by a spherical joint 6, as is usual in locomotiveconstruction. The opening 2, which is cir-- metallic plate 7 of the formshown in Fig. 2, and having an opening of like form. The

' elliptical orelongated form of the opening is rendered-necessary byreason :of the curvature and inclination of plate 7 relative to thesteam pipe 3, it being desirable that the inner edge or wall of theopening in plate, have a slight clearance with-reference to preparatoryto setting the latter.

smoke-box shell where,

ispartly covered and reduced by, a.

the pipe 3. The plate 7 is secured to the ably by spot welding, though Ido not re strict myself to this particular mode of attachment. It is sosecured after the steam pipe 3 has been properly positioned.

In practice it is found desirable to make the plate 7 in two likesections so that it may be readily plaifed about the steam pipe afterthe latter has been properly positloned, but if there be no enlargementsat the ends of the pipe section it may be made in a single piece andpassed over the end of the pipe As the plate is of relatively thinmaterial, it is possible to cut it at one end only and bend the twosides apart facewise, pass it about the pipe and into position, andbring the free Encompassing that portion ,ofthe steam pipe 3 immediatelyoutside the smoke-box shell 1,-and for som'edistancebelow the same, is acylindrical casing 8, the upper end of which is provided with anoutwardly turned flange 9, the face of which is curved to conform to theoutside curvature of the stance, the steam pipe is arranged vertically,The angularity of said face will be varied to correspond to anychangeofthe position of the steam pipe from the vertical. The

lower end of the casing 8 is reduced in diameter to form a necklO, whichmakes a close contact or fit with the circumference of steam pipe 3 orwith a swell or enlargement. ll made/thereon, that portion of the casing8 between its main body or portion of larger diameter and the neck orsleeve.

10 being formed .by a reversed or ogee curve 12, as shown in thedrawing. The neck or sleeve 10 is preferably electrically welded to thesteam pipe, and the flange 9 is similarly welded to the outer face ofthe producing air and smoke-boxshell 1-, thus gas tight joints betweenthe steam pipe and thesmoke-bo'x' shell, and hermetically sealing thelatter against ingress of air through the openings 2.

13 indicates a light outer casing of sheet metal, which is preferablymade in two movah These sections are flanged at their lower ends toconform. to .the circumferenceas in the present in-- halves tovfacilitate application and rein the showing. of the parts,

A play of the pipe tive construction,

inner casing having m Q teases cylindrical form, and are cut on a curveat their upper ends to conform to the curvature of the smoke-box shelland of the flange 9 of the inner casing 8. The sections of the casing 13may be connected in an convenient way, either by bands or hoops passingabout them, or by bolts passing through ears 14 formed thereon.

The bolts connecting the lianges of the steam pipe 3 and valve-chestneck 5 are omitted in the drawing for greater clearness but will ofcourse be used in practice.

The space bounded by the inner walls of easing 8 and the outer walls ofsteam pipe 3 and plate 7 may be advantageously packed with asbestos orother heat'resistant material, if desired, in the form of asbestos rope,this serving to lessen the radiation of heat from and the cooling of thesteam pipe. Packing may if desired be applied within the outer casing 13for a like purpose.

While in practice it is deemed advisable to employ spot welding for theattachment of plate 7 to the smoke-box shell, and electric welding forsecuring the casing S to the smoke-box shell and steam pipe, it is obvious thatother methods of securing sai parts and forming a gas and airtight union between them, may be employed. I do not,

. therefore, intend to restrict myself to welding, but contemplate anyother usual or known and efficientmethod of making such connection. 7

The reversed or ogee curve connecting the larger and smaller diametersof the casing 8 ensures a flexibility and permits a limited 3 withoutproducing any initial lines of fracture such as would be oilered bysharp bends .or angles.

The structure here set forthhas been practically tested for aconsiderable period of time in regular railway. service, and such testshave demonstrated its efficiency, permanency, and absolute freedom fromair leaks. It thus overcomes a serious difficulty long and generallyexperienced in locomoseriously affecting the draft of the engine, andinvolving material waste of fuel.

The use of the light outer. casing 13 is optional, though usualandpreferred. The prominent feature of the invention is the the reversedcurve atfording flexibility and permitting, without injury, loosening ofparts, or breaking of the seal, such play and vibration as is incidentto the motion of the locomotive and the relative movement of its parts.

'What'is claimed is:-

1. In a-'locomotive, the combination of a smoke-box; a valve chest; asteam pipe passing through the smoke-box shell and con- 'necting withthe valve chest; and a casing encompassing said steam pipe, joined atone end to the smoke-box shell and at its other end to the steam pipe,and serving to seal hermetically the opening in the smokebox shellthrough which the steam pipe passes.

'2. In a locomotive, the ,comhination of a smoke-box; a valve chest; asteam pi pc passing through the smoke-box shell and connecting with thevalve chest; and a casing encompassing sai-d steam pipe, "oiired at oneend to the smoke-box shell and at its other end to the steam pipe, andhaving intermediate said points ot connection a reversed curveconnecting its portions of larger and smaller diameter; wherebyflexibility is atforded said casing and play of the steam pipe ispermitted without danger of rupturing the asing or its connections withthe smoke-box shell and the steam pipe.

3. In combination with the shell of a locomotive smoke-box provided withan en larged opening for the introduction and passage of a'steam pipe; avalvechest; a. steam pipe passing through said opening in the smoke-boxshell and communicating with the valve chest; a plate secured to theinner wall of the smokebox shell, projecting inward over the openingtherein, and through which the steam pipe passes; a casing encompassingthe steampipe and having a flanged upper end firmly secured to theexterior face of the smoke-box shell, and its lower end formed into aclose-fitting sleeve and secured to the outer surface of the steam pipe;and an outer casing encompassing the first casing and the steam-pipe,

and extending from the smoke-box shell to the valve chest.

In combination with the smoke-box shell of a locomotive, a valve chest;an ex ternal steam pipe; a casing encompassing said steam pipe andwelded at its upper and lower ends to said shell and steam pipe; and anouter casing encompassing the firstnamed' casing and the steam pipe, andex tending from the smoke-box shell to the valve chest. V

5. Tn combination with the smoke-boX shell of a locomotive, andwith avalve chest, a steam pipe passing through an opening in said shell andcommunicating with the valve chest; a metallic casing encompassing thesteam pipe, having its upper end'hermetically secured to the smoke-boxshell and its lower end contracted and hermetically joined to the steampipe; and a heatresistive packing interposed between the steam pipe andthe casing.

6. In combination with the smoke-box of lllltl lliltl a locomotivehaving a relatively large open- 395 opening to and connecting with thevalve 383 chest; a plate within the smoke-box, conforming to thecurvature of the smoke-hex wall, and through which said pipe passes; anda casing encompassing the steam pipe, hermetically secured at its upperendto the smoke-box wall and at its lower end to the steam. pipe, andhaving between said points of attachment a reversed curve affordingflexibility and permitting relative play of the parts. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR H. FETTERS.

